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Month: February 2015

Capsized on Wester Scheldt

Capsized on Wester Scheldt

Rick
Photo: omroepzeeland.nl

On February 6, the 75 meter long barge Rick capsized on the Wester Scheldt near Breskens, Netherlands. The Rick was busy being loaded with a cargo of gravel.  The Rick was moored alongside the 85 meter long dredger Interballast 1 when the Rick suddenly rolled over. Several KNRM lifeboats, pilot boats along with vessel from Belgian Navy responded to the scene. One crewman  working on the deck  was thrown into the river, but was quickly recovered. The other two crewmen on board the Rick were trapped below. The two men had been asleep when the vessel capsized.  Divers knocked on the hull to see if there was any response from the men, but did not get an answer.  The search was suspended and the focus was keeping the vessel from drifting away.  A tug pushed the overturned barge onto a sandbar to stabilize the wreck.  A few hours later, a second crewman was rescued. He had survived in an air pocket, but had suffered from hypothermia.  The third crewman was still reported as missing. Reports state the Rick was to be dewatered and taken to Terneuzen.

Signe

Signe

Signe
Photo: nrk.no

The 11 meter long, 11 gt fishing vessel Signe ran aground at Senjahopen, Norway. The vessel had been tied up at its moorings when a sudden squall struck. The lone crewman in the wheelhouse could do nothing as the waves whipped up in the harbor. The Signe broke from its mooring and blown ashore onto the rocks. The vessel hull was holed, but no reports of injuries.  Reports state that vessel’s insurers may salvage or scrap the vessel.

Friedrich Götz

Friedrich Götz

Friedrich Götz
photo: stuttgarter-zeitung.de

The 105 meter long self-propelled barge Friedrich Götz allided with a bridge over the Neckar River near Untertürkheim, Germany. The barge was headed to Stuttgart from Mannheim with a cargo of containers when the Friedrich Götz smashed against the underside of the bridge. The barge’s wheelhouse was smashed injuring the master of the vessel. He was later taken to hospital for treatment. The Friedrich Götz was maneuvered to a nearby container terminal in Heidelberg.  Reports state that damage is between 30,000 and 40,000 Euros.